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Strategies & Market Trends : Technical analysis for shorts & longs
SPY 687.86-0.4%Dec 29 4:00 PM EST

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To: Johnny Canuck who wrote (40459)12/12/2003 9:26:55 PM
From: Johnny Canuck  Read Replies (1) of 69301
 
U.S. sentiment takes surprise drop
Consumer survey falls back from November reading

By Gregory Robb, CBS Marketwatch.com
Last Update: 10:54 AM ET Dec. 12, 2003







WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- Consumers have turned more cautious after deciding that all the talk of an improving U.S. economy may still be just so much hot air, according to researchers at the University of Michigan.



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The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index fell Friday to a reading of 89.6 in early December from 93.7 in November.

The decline was unexpected. The consensus forecast of Wall Street economists was for sentiment to improve to 95.6.

Stocks fell and bonds rose in the immediate aftermath of the closely watched report. See full story.

Consumer sentiment has risen sharply since hitting a 10-year low of 77.6 in March.

However, consumers cited fewer gains in wages as the primary reason for concern about their personal financial situation in early December.

Growing impatience by consumers for their personal financial situation is typical after an initial surge in confidence tied to a recovering economy, researchers said.

Consumers soon begin to wonder when the improving economy will translate into higher wages or a better job.

"The data make it clear that consumers are counting on more rapid job growth in the months ahead, and without that growth in employment, confidence will quickly wane," the University of Michigan research team said.

As for other data, the current conditions index fell to 93.6 in December from 102.5 in November, while the consumer expectations index fell to 87.1 from 88.1.

The decline suggests that retailers may be in for a tougher holiday shopping season than has been widely expected.

The feeling that the recovery might be passing them by has made consumers look for discounts, the Michigan researchers said.

This price sensitivity comes at the same time that retailers have tried to hold the line on discounts following the rise in consumer confidence seen over the past few months.

Greg Robb is a senior reporter for CBS MarketWatch based in Washington.
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